FIFA Announces First Sales Milestone: More Than 1 Million Tickets Sold for 2026 World Cup

FIFA announced on October 17, 2025, that more than 1 million tickets have been sold for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first sales update since general availability began earlier this month. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will feature an unprecedented 48 teams across 104 matches at 16 venues, expanding from the traditional 32-team format to include more nations and games. Buyers hail from 212 countries and territories, with the highest demand from the host nations, followed by England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France in the top 10. This early surge, drawn from a lottery of 4.5 million applicants last month, reflects the event's historic scale and broad appeal, even as only 28 qualification spots are secured. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the response as "incredible", emphasising how the tournament is "capturing the imagination of supporters everywhere" amid ongoing global qualifiers.

The resale platform launched alongside the announcement, offering secondary market options for high-profile fixtures like the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where seats ranged from $9,538 to $57,500. FIFA has withheld detailed breakdowns by match or venue, including a comprehensive pricing grid—a departure from past tournaments since 1990. Instead, dynamic pricing will adjust costs based on demand, with four categories from premium Category 1 seats to upper-level Category 4 options. Entry-level prices start at $60 for at least 40 matches, though most exceed that; the U.S. opener on June 12 in Inglewood, California, began at $560 to $2,735, with resale listings climbing to $61,642. Of the estimated 7.1 million total seats, public availability remains unspecified, potentially reserving portions for sponsors, teams, and hospitality. The next lottery phase opens October 27 for single-match, venue-specific, and team-based tickets, with winners notified mid-November through early December, followed by a post-draw random selection after December 5 qualifiers finalise the schedule. Additional first-come, first-served sales are planned closer to kickoff.

This ticket frenzy coincides with logistical and geopolitical uncertainties, including U.S. President Donald Trump's recent comments on potentially relocating matches from sites like suburban Boston deemed "unsafe" due to security concerns. Visa access poses another hurdle for international fans, exacerbated by tightened U.S. immigration policies; an Argentina-Puerto Rico friendly shifted from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale amid sluggish sales attributed to travel fears. These issues highlight broader challenges for the first World Cup spanning three countries, with matches distributed across diverse climates from Mexico City's high altitude to Vancouver's coastal chill. Despite such headwinds, the sales momentum underscores soccer's growing U.S. footprint, building on the 1994 tournament's legacy while leveraging modern digital platforms for global reach.

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Adding star power to the SoCal festivities, NBA standout Luka Dončić—a Slovenian-born Los Angeles Lakers guard and Real Madrid supporter fluent in four languages—was named an ambassador for California-hosted games on October 17. "I've always been a football fan," Dončić said. "Los Angeles is a great city full of amazing people who love to play and watch every sport. I can't wait for the World Cup, and it's an honour to help bring people together through a sport that connects so many cultures around the globe." His role bolsters outreach in a region expecting seven matches, including group stages and knockouts. As preparations intensify, the 2026 edition promises to redefine the sport's pinnacle, fostering unity amid expansion and innovation.

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